Female jumbo falls into ditch

Forest officials suspect the elephant was a part of the herd that raided a maize farm on the fringes of the forest bordering Veeranahosahalli and may have fallen into the ditch while returning to the forest.

The surrounding regions including Tibetan camp, Pakshirajapura, Penjalli have seen a good maize crop this year attracting herds of elephants.  The ditch had been dug up around the forest region to prevent the jumbos from straying into villages.

When informed about the elephant, ACF Belliappa and his team arrived on the spot, even as curious villagers and tribals from Nagapura hamlets surrounded the place. Forest officials initially tried  to pull the elephant using ropes. But when this did not work, Dasara elephants Abhimanya and Ganesh were summoned from Moorkal camp.

However, this did not work too and the officials are now widening the ditch using an earth-moving machine. “We will see if the elephant can pull itself up after widening the gorge till Sunday morning.

Our doctors have been treating the exhausted pachyderm,” an official said. A team of rangers and forest guards are deputed on the spot to ensure the safety of the elephant.